Clinical Cooney one to rely on when the pressure is highest

FAMILY TIES: Conor Cooney with his mother Mary after St Thomas’ got the better of Loughrea in the Galway SHC final replay. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane

The contrast was borderline cruel. With seven minutes left, St Thomas were a point down and desperately pursuing a fifth consecutive Galway crown. It was their puck-out and everyone in the Pearse Stadium knew where it was headed.

Gerald Kelly launched it on top of his captain, Conor Cooney. The centre forward soared and was fouled. To onlookers, it was a tricky free into the breeze with huge stakes. For Cooney it was a gimme. Four minutes later, he was offered another opportunity inside his half to push them ahead by one. He slotted it and that margin held to the end.